Discover Polokwane by Hire Car

Polokwane is a major city in the north of the Republic of South Africa, with a population of around half a million at an altitude of more than 1300 metres.

Until 2003, Polokwane was still called Pietersburg, but was renamed Polokwane as part of a nationwide renaming of cities and towns whose naming was closely linked to the country’s apartheid history.

Today the name means safe place. Founded originally by Burmese immigrants in 1886, the city was also once the capital of the Boer Republic of Transvaal, but was conquered by the British in 1901.

Sights in Polokwane

The centre of Polokwane resembles those of many other major modern cities with excellent infrastructure and transport links.

Worth seeing in Polkwane is the Balkone Malapa Open-Air Museum, about nine kilometres south of the heart of the city.There you can learn a lot about the history and culture of the Sotho people, who have lived here in the region since time immemorial.

In this context, a visit by hire car to the nearby Sotho Village near Nylstroom is also more than worthwhile. The brightly painted traditional style huts are absolutely picturesque.

A nature park right in the middle of town can be found at the fascinating Polokwane Nature Reserve. Covering over 3200 hectares, it is home to native game and a wide range of rare, colourful birds.